VSO x 'Gene Kelly: A Life in Music' Captivates with Patricia Ward Kelly at the Helm

In Gene Kelly: A Life in Music performance with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Patricia Ward Kelly offers an engaging and immersive experience for the audience. The show goes beyond a traditional concert with video clips. Throughout the performance, Kelly provides insights, sharing her personal memories and in-depth knowledge of Gene Kelly’s life and work, enriching the audience’s understanding of each piece and enhancing their appreciation of the clips—some of which may be familiar but are brought to life in new and meaningful ways.

Reflecting on the evolution of her one-woman show, Patricia explains how the 2012 Academy of Motion Pictures retrospective, which honoured Gene Kelly, led to a deeper exploration of the role music played in his career. “After the 2012 Academy show, I began touring my one-woman show, and I noticed that audiences would leave saying, ‘I loved Gene before, but I love him even more now.’ They started to understand the many dimensions of him,” she shares.

Patricia notes that, while Gene is often remembered for his dance, she associates him with music because that was the way he communicated with her during their years of recording. He would frequently use song lyrics to express his most intimate thoughts, memories, and emotions. She emphasizes how deeply Gene respected the musicians, arrangers, and composers with whom he worked, often engaging directly with them during the recording process. “I once asked him, ‘What comes first, the music or the dance?’ and he replied, ‘Usually, with me, it’s the dance that comes first, and then I connect it to the music.'”

The Gene Kelly: A Life in Music show grew out of that retrospective and became a way to honour Kelly’s legacy further. Patricia reached out to the Academy, knowing they often held tributes to legendary figures and offered to participate.

“I knew the Academy often held tributes to legends, so I reached out to them. Typically, they would gather people who had worked with figures like Jimmy Stewart, for example. However, Gene found that many of those who had worked with him did not share the same recollections or details,” she explains. Patricia took it upon herself to ensure that Gene’s story was accurately preserved, acting in a way like a journalist, using production records to verify what he had shared with her.

She adds, “Gene was highly ‘on target’ because, as a director, choreographer, and star, he had to oversee the schedule, budget, and every detail far more than other performers, who were often involved in a film for less time.”

When asked about the challenge of adapting Gene Kelly’s iconic films for a live orchestra, Patricia acknowledges the technical difficulties of separating the soundtracks.

“In those days, separate tracks were rare, which makes creating these shows challenging,” she says. She worked closely with Chris Drozdowski, a skilled extraction specialist, who spent hours isolating the music for the live orchestra performance. Thanks to new technology, Drozdowski is now revisiting and refining the tracks, ensuring that Gene’s famous tap dance sounds are clearer than ever before. Patricia is excited about this new version, calling it “the cleanest version we have ever achieved,” and is eager for audiences to experience the music in its most refined form.

Reflecting on Gene Kelly’s lasting influence on dancers, Patricia feels strongly that his impact would still be felt today. “I believe there is a strong desire for more musicals. People love them and long for them,” she says. “However, large studio conglomerates often opt for the easier route, adapting Broadway shows into films or vice versa. It takes bold investment in original works, like La La Land, which Lionsgate supported, to create new opportunities. That kind of environment is what allows artists like Gene Kelly to thrive.”

The performance of Gene Kelly: A Life in Music is designed to be much more than just a typical film screening with live music. “The show features wonderful surprises, including rare recordings and previously unseen material from his vaults,” Patricia shares. “I aim to showcase a variety of his work, so the audience will hear him speak, watch him dance, and experience his versatility in numerous styles—from classical ballet to Spanish dance, jazz, and acrobatics. You will witness a true blend of talent, not confined to any one style.”

She believes the show will offer a deeply personal experience that will resonate with audiences, evoking laughter and tears. “This show is engaging, personal, and deeply moving. Audiences will laugh, cry, and interact with the screen, creating a unique experience,” she says. “It is not simply watching a movie; it is an immersive event.” The theatre setting itself plays an important role, as it fosters a shared experience among the audience members.

Patricia recalls an especially touching moment from a performance in Seattle, where a 100-year-old woman and a five-year-old girl sat next to each other, and the older woman delighted in watching the child’s reactions. “The audience’s experience becomes a part of the show itself.” Gene Kelly: A Life in Music promises to be a celebration of one of cinema’s most beloved figures, offering both long-time fans and new audiences a fresh perspective on Kelly’s artistry, his relationship with music, and his lasting legacy. 

[Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine extends its deepest gratitude to Denise Hui for her insightful interview with Patricia Ward Kelly, which provided the foundation for this extraordinary story. Her contributions were invaluable in bringing this feature to life ahead of the unforgettable performance.]

Read the original version of this story in Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine’s flippable version!

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, and digital women's lifestyle magazine EcoLuxLifestyle.co. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.